About Grace, by Anthony Doerr

This book was okay for the first 250 pages, it was holding our interest, but after that -- for the last 150 pages -- the author drew out way too much. 

Doerr uses a ton of imagery, metaphors and similes. He's a pro at creative writing, however, he uses it sooo extensively that his poetic prose becomes distracting. 

There were too many unbelievable elements in the story. The idea of dreams as portents is interesting. Unfortunately, Doerr took a story that would've worked for a 250 page book, and just ad-libbed to make it 400 pgs.

Also, main character (David Winkler) engages in lewd thoughts (urges) that borders on incestuous. There was NO reason to introduce those moments. None at all. And it made me hate Winkler.

I skimmed the last 100 pages. Any book that's 400 pages better have a lot of substance and this one did NOT.  In fact, we don't think we'll choose to read any of Doerr's other work. 

False start, Two Nights in Lisbon, by Chris Pavone

The beginning was boring. Decided not to push too far into it. I'm tired of books that "tell" more than they "show." I'll say it til I'm blue in the face, the author's job is to pull in the reader from the beginning. Create the desire to keep turning pages. 

After reading some book reviews, I see there are tons of other discerning readers who pushed through, but then sped read, or gave up after 150 pgs or so. Nope, not this time. Not this gal.